Champions of West – Zone! with outstanding performances by the boys scoring an avg of 6 goals per game!

Kudos to Augusto D’Silva (Coach) led team which remained unbeaten in this years competition. Winning all the matches and drawing one gave Maharashtra the top seed in the final rounds.

Following is their current run:

10 Dec – Maharashtra 6 – 0 Gujurat

Kamran Ansari 3

Pranav Kanase 1

Krish Adhikari 1

Aniket Varekar 1

14 Dec – Maharashtra 12 – 0 Daman & Diu

Aman kimapure 4

Kamran ansari 3

Pranav kanase 2

Krish adhikari 2

Kashif ansari 1

16 Dec – Maharashtra 4 – 1Madhya Pradesh

Kamran Ansari 3

Clivert Millar 1

18 Dec – Maharashtra 5-5 Goa

Kamran Ansari 3

Clivert Miller 1

Aman Kirnapure 1

20 Dec – Goa 0 – 3 Maharashtra (Zonal Finals)

Aman Kirnapure 2

Aniket Varekar 1

‘In the finals we expect the competition to be much tougher. They are slated for this January 3rd Week. We are having a small break for Christmas and New Years. We will soon resume practice and try and build the team for lifting the All India Trophy’, informed Coach Augusto.

Yet another smashing performance by Maratha boys to maintain their top spot in the qualifying group stage of the West Zone Qualifiers in the All India Sub Junior Championship.

The Hat-trick hero Kamran Ansari was on role as his goals helped the team to salvage a point after a disappointing first half which ended 4-1 in the favor of Goa.

Clivert Millar and Aman Kirnapure also go a goal a piece in the second half. Miraculously Maharashtra were 5-4 up in the dying minutes of the Match but the gritty Goans pulled one back ending the game on level pegging.

Maharashtra have topped the group with 3 wins and a draw and a Goal Difference of 20 goals while the Goans finished 2nd with as many points but with an inferior GD of 18.

Both the teams will be sledging out in the group finals on 20th Dec.

Both the teams have qualified for the Final rounds which will be played in January 2015.

Maharashtra lads came up with another brilliant combined display to register a thumping 12-0 win against Daman & Diu in a West Zone qualifiers league match of the All India Sub-Junior National Championship, being played in Goa.

Leading the charge for the Maharashtra outfit were strikers Aman Kimapure (4 goals) and Kamran Ansari (3 goals). Pranav Kanase and Krish Adhikari, both chipped in with two goals each and Kashif Ansari one to complete the rout.

This was the second successive victory for Maharashtra after they had earlier handed Gujarat a 6-0 defeat in the opening match.

The following players will represent Maharashtra Sub-Junior football team in the Sub-Junior National Football Championship for Coca Cola Cup 2014-15 (qualifying Round-West Zone) to be held at Goa from 10th to 20th December 2014.

Mumbai, December 3: It was a historic day for Maharashtra and Mumbai as the historic, refurbished Cooperage Football Stadium was re-opened by Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, President, Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The upgrading of the Cooperage Ground, was done under FIFA’s ‘Win in India, With India” project.

Gracing the historic moment was Mrs. Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson, Indian Super League, and Mr. Praful Patel, President, All India Football Federation.

Also present on this momentous occasion were a host former Internationals, present Footballers, FIFA Referees, Coaches, representatives from FIFA, AIFF, Clubs, Football kids and fans amongst others.

The Artificial Turf laid at the newly built sleek Cooperage Stadium been a part of the FIFA’s Goal Project.

Mr. Patel thanked FIFA for their “special interest in developing Indian Football.”

“FIFA and out AFC have contributed immensely to the rebirth of Football in our Country. India was always a great Football Playing Nation. On the occasion of the recently held 60th Anniversary of AFC, Shaikh Salman honoured India as one of the 12 founding members of the AFC,” Mr. Patel mentioned.

“This ground has a history of over 127 years,” he said referring to the Cooperage. “This ground was in existence prior to all settling down. There is no reason as to why there should be a stoppage in the growth of Football,” he added. “FIFA has spent over 2 million USD to get this Stadium ready. I urge all to support the cause of Football in the City and in the Country.”

Shaikh Salman mentioned about the history of the Cooperage Stadium. “It is a great honour for me to be here standing on this Football ground. I know that India has a lot to contribute for the game and under the leadership of Mr. Praful Patel, AIFF has been targeting the right areas to promote and boost the Sport in India and the Asian Football Confederation will be continuing to support them,” he said.

“AFC and FIFA are confident that the successful hosting of 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup will be further boosting the development of Football in the Country,” he added.

A “nostalgic” Mrs. Ambani mentioned about her personal connect with the Cooperage.

“It was on this ground that Mukesh (Mr. Mukesh Ambani) and I got married. After that, we have come here many times to watch Mohun Bagan play East Bengal,” she recollected.

“This is a wonderful Stadium. This Stadium has been the Ambassador for Mumbai Football and has been synonymous with Mumbai’s Football. My heartiest congratulations to WIFA and Mr. Praful Patel,” she stated.

Former Indian National Team Players, a host of Referees and Coaches were also felicitated on the occasion.

Caption:

Pic-1: AFC President, Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa (left), Mrs. Nita Ambani (centre), Founder and Chairperson, Indian Super League, and Mr. Praful Patel, President, All India Football Federation and Western India Football Association kick a ball during the inauguration ceremony of the refurbished Cooperage football ground on Wednesday evening.

Pic-2: Mrs. Nita Ambani (left), Founder and Chairperson, Indian Super League, and Mr. Praful Patel, President, All India Football Federation and Western India Football Association applaud after AFC President, Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa (2nd right) unveiled the plaque at the inauguration ceremony of the refurbished Cooperage football ground on Wednesday evening.